Brussels, 29/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 June, the EU Council of ministers adopted, without debate, a new regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products (see EUROPE 9444 on the political agreement of 12 June). Italy, Belgium, Hungary and Greece, which would have preferred stricter legislation in cases of accidental contamination of organic products by GMOs, voted against the text.
The new regulation indicates that organic farming and GMOs do not make good bedfellows, but allows the agrifood industry to use processing aids (additives, enzymes) derived from GMOs when there is no conventional equivalent available on the market. Similarly, there will be some latitude for farmers in the event of involuntary contamination of crops by GMOs: where this contamination is less than 0.9%, the crop will still be able to be called organic. Farmers will, however, have to prove that they have taken every possible step to avoid contamination. The use of the “EU Organic” logo will be compulsory on packaged products, voluntary for non-packaged products and foodstuffs imported from non-European countries. Foodstuffs, at least 95% of the volume of which comply with organic farming standards, will be able to use the EU logo. Below that level, “organically farmed” may feature on the list of ingredients. The European label may be used in combination with national or private logos. (lc)